By Cally Imbayi
Dorcas Ikana, wife to Shinyalu Member of Parliament (MP) Fred Lusuli Ikana has launched a programme that will see girls in schools have a regular supply of sanitary pads in order to ensure they continue with their studies even during their menstrual period.
The programme, launched at Lugala Secondary school in the Constituency this week, is meant to benefit all girls in area schools for the next five years.
While launching the programme, Mrs. Ikana said it will also sensitize the girls on sex education, mental health discussions and hygiene during menses.
“As a lady and Doctor, I saw it imperative to start this programme so that as much as the MP is providing bursaries through CDF for students in schools, menstruation can be a key factor that may keep away female students from school. It is unfortunate that many girls have to stay away from school during their menstrual period due to fear of embarrassment.
She observed that many girls in primary and day secondary schools in rural areas skip school when their monthly menstrual cycle is in full swing.
This, together with menstrual pain and lack of effective materials for menstrual hygiene management, leads to school absenteeism, thus impeding their academic performance.
A recent study in schools showed that poverty and menstruation are the key factors associated with school absenteeism among girls.
Mrs. Ikana said that the girl child needs to be empowered to work hard in their studies and therefore she was going to carry out resource mobilization to be able to reach all schools across the constituency as a menstrual hygiene intervention to reduce school absenteeism.
